Aphelenchus avenae

{{Short description|Species of roundworm}}

{{Speciesbox

| taxon = Aphelenchus avenae

| authority = Bastian, 1865

}}

Aphelenchus avenae is a mycophagous nematode capable of feeding on plant tissue in culture.{{ITIS | id = 63984 | taxon = Aphelenchus avenae | accessdate = July 30, 2007 }}[http://plpnemweb.ucdavis.edu/nemaplex/Taxadata/G012s1.htm Aphelenchus avenae] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070316080104/http://plpnemweb.ucdavis.edu/nemaplex/Taxadata/G012s1.htm |date=March 16, 2007 }} at Nemaplex, University of California[http://nematode.unl.edu/aavenae.htm Aphelenchus avenae] at University of NebraskaBarker, K. R., and H. M. Darling. 1965. Reproduction of Aphelenchus avenae on plant tissues in culture. Nematologica 11:162-166. It is a nematode commonly found in the soil, known to primarily feed on fungi. However, there have been instances where Aphelenchus has been observed in healthy plant tissue, although there is currently no evidence suggesting that it causes harm to higher plants. Due to its ease of cultivation on fungi, Aphelenchus is considered a suitable organism for experimental purposes. Within the Aphelenchus genus, several species have been identified, but experts are uncertain whether these represent distinct species or if A. avenae is simply a morphologically variable species. In the Netherlands, only female specimens of Aphelenchus have been discovered, while in southern Europe, males are quite common. Interestingly, if we cultivate Dutch material at higher temperatures, males also appear in the population.{{Cite web |title= Aphelenchus avenae|date=8 August 2012 |url=https://www.wur.nl/en/research-results/chair-groups/plant-sciences/laboratory-of-nematology/nematode-pictures/aphelenchus-avenae.htm}}

• Feeding: Hyphal feeder; Aphelenchus avenae feeds on a variety of fungi,Giannakis and Sanders, 1989; Mankau and Mankau, 1963 but is not known to feed on higher plants.Hesling, 1977
• Hosts: Fungi
• Digestion: A genetic analysis by Karim et al. 2009 reveals cell wall-lytic enzymes in A. avenae - enzymes analogous in function to the β-1,4-endoglucanases in cyst nematodes.{{cite journal | last1=Fosu-Nyarko | first1=John | last2=Jones | first2=Michael G.K. | title=Advances in Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of Root Lesion Nematode Host Interactions | journal=Annual Review of Phytopathology | publisher=Annual Reviews | volume=54 | issue=1 | date=2016-08-04 | issn=0066-4286 | doi=10.1146/annurev-phyto-080615-100257 | pages=253–278| pmid=27296144 | doi-access=free }}
• Life Cycle: Males seem fairly common in some populations, less frequent in others; Capable of withstanding dry conditions through anhydrobiosis. Used as a model system for studying anhydrobiosis.
• Management: Numbers are increased by addition of complex organic materials to soil to enhance fungal decomposition.